Strap construction for bathing sandals



May 6, 1952, B. "P. DAUGHERTY, JR 2,595,643

STRAP CNSTRUCTION FOR BATH-ING 'SANDALS Filed Sept. 7, 1951 ATTORNEKSPatented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STRAP CONSTRUCTION FOR`BATHIN G SANDALS Burton P. Daugherty, Jr., Washington, D. C. ApplicationSeptember 7, 1951, Serial No. `245,493

3 Claims. l

This invention relates to an article of footwear. and more particularly,to a sandal having a novel construction including an improved means forsecuring the strap to the sole.

In the prior art sandals having straps for securing the sole to the footof the wearer are well known. However, these prior art sandals haveseveral defects or disadvantages. More specically, the straps arefrequently in the form of cord, thongs, or other narrow strips whichltend to cut and chafe the foot. In those devices which have employedbroad straps the later tended to twist and thereby made it diicult toplace the sandal on the foot, as well as being irritating anduncomfortable to wear. Furthermore, the prior art sandals have securingmeans for connecting the straps to the sole which are unreliable in thatthey frequently tend to break, provide unsightly and bothersomeprojecting connections, and are relatively expensive as to cost ofmanufacture.

Itis, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide asandal having broad straps so arranged that the straps will lie flatagainst the foot of the wearer throughout their lengths and will berestrained against twistingr out of this position, thereby preventingany chang or cutting.

Another object of the presentl invention is to provide a novel securing`means for the straps, these securing means comprising strap portionsextending downwardly through apertures in the sole and having enlargedshoulders abutting against the lower surface of the sole so as torestrain the strap portions against upward movement.

A further object is to provide hollow rubber bosses on the V lowersurface of the sole for enclosing said shoulder projections, the bossesserving both as a protective enclosure for the enlarged shoulders andalso as a suction cup gripping means to improve the traction of the solewith respect to the ground.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentand are inherent in the structure as described in the specification andas shown in the drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a sandal constructed in accordance withthe present invention,

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view showing the lower surface of the sole,

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 3--3 ofFigure 1, and shows the structural details of a rubber boss and theenclosed shoulder therein for restraining the forward ends ofthe strapsections against upwardV movement; and

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially onthe line 4-4 of Figure 1 and shows the rubber boss and securing meansfor the rear ends of the strap sections.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral H indicates generallythe sole of the sandal. The upper surface I2 of the sole Il ispreferably provided with a series of longitudinal slits I3 crossed bytransverse slits I 4 which are spaced relatively closer than, and aresomewhat shallower than, the longitudinal slits I3. At the forward ortoe end i5 and at the rear or heel end l5 of the sole Il are providedlongitudinally extending slits |1 and I8 respectively, the slits l1 andI8 being relatively closer to each other and shallow, similar to thetransverse slits I4.

Referring now to Figure 2, the lower surface i t of the sole l l ispreferably provided with a peripherally extending rib or raised portion20. Within the area enclosed by the rib 2U are several diferent types ofprojecting configurations such as at 2l, 22, 23,724 and 25, theseprojections serving as a gripping means to increase the traction of thesole with respect to the ground and also providing a decorative effect.It will be obvious that the particular shapes of these congurations haveno bearing on the present invention and may be varied as desired.

The strap member, generally designated as 26, comprises two strapsections 21 and 28. Each of the strap sections 21 and 28 extends fromits rear end 21-28f forwardly to its respective forward end 21." -28.The strap member 26 is preferably made integral so that the strapsection forward end 21" is continuous with the strap section forward end28". However, if desired, the strap sectionsV 21 and 28 may be made ofindividual pieces and secured together at their forward ends 21"-28". Itwill be noted that the strap sections 21 and 28 are of a somewhatarcuate configuration so as toV accommodate the contour of the wearersfoot.

Approximately adjacent the forward or toe end i5 of the lower surface ofthe sole Il and intermediate the longitudinal side edges 29 and 30 ofthe latter there is provided a downwardly extending hollow boss orprojection 3|. The boss 3i is preferably of a circular configuration asshown in the drawing, but it will be obvious that other cross sectionalshapes may be employed.

Referring now to Figure 3, the sole Il is provided with an aperture 32coaxial and communicating with the opening in the boss 3 I. A projection33 extends downwardly through the aperture 32 and is provided at itslower end with an enlarged shoulder portion 34 which abuts against thelower surface of the sole II. The upper end of the projection 33 isadhesively or otherwise secured to the forward ends 21"-28 of the strapsections 21 and 28. It will also be noted that the lower portion of theboss 3| extends downwardly beneath the enlarged shoulder 34 so as toprovide a hollow space 35 within the boss 3|. This enables the boss 3|to act as a suction cup gripping means as will be explained in moredetail below.

A pair of bosses 3B and 31 are provided approximately adjacent the rearor heel end I6 of the sole I I and extend downwardly from the peripheralrib 20 with which they are inegrally formed.

As best seen in Figure 1, the bosses 36 and 31 are constructed similarlyto the boss 3| described above. The sole II is provided with a pair ofapertures 38 extending therethrough, each aperture 38 being coaxial andcommunicating with a respective one of the openings in the interior ofthe bosses 36 and 31. Each of the rear ends 21T- 28' of the strapsections 21 and 28 is provided with a reduced portion 39 extendingdownwardly through a respective aperture 38. The portions 39 are eachprovided with an enlarged shoulder 46 abutting against the lower surfaceof the sole II so as to restrain the strap section ends 21-28' againstupward movement.` The shoulders 40 are enclosed by the bosses 36 and 31but fill only the upper portion of the space within the bosses 36 and 31so as to provide an air space 4I within the lower portions of each ofthe bosses 36 and 31. The air space 4| enable the bosses 36 and 31 toact as a suction cup or gripping means so as to increase the traction ofthe sole with respect to the ground.

Referring now to Figure 1. it will be noted that the strap sections 21and 28 are of greater width than thickness so as to provide large flatsurface areas adapted to contact the foot of the wearer without causingchang or irritation. The rear ends 21-28 of the strap sections 21 and 28lie substantially horizontal and flat against the upper surface I2 ofthe sole I I. As the strap sections 21 and 28 extend outwardly andforwardly they twist gradually so that their intermediate portions 21-28are approximately vertical. The strap sections 21 and 28 continue totwist as they extend forwardly until at the forward ends 21"-28" thestrap sections 21 and 28 have each twisted approximately 180 so as tolie substantially horizontal and in inverted relation with respect totheir original alignment at the rear ends 21-28. This arrangement of thestrap sections 21 and 28 provides that their broad interior surfaces lieflat against the surface of the wearers foot. Furthermore, although thestrap sections 21 and 28 and also their projecting reduced portions33-39, are preferably made of rubber and are, therefore, somewhatresilient, these elements are suiciently stiff so that the strapsections 21 and 28 tend to maintain their open arcuate raised positionsshown in the drawing so as to enable the wearer to slip his foot betweenand beneath the strap sections 21 and 23 with ease and rapidity.

As shown in Figure 1' the projecting or reduced portion 33 to which thestrap section forward ends 21"-28" are secured is relatively narrow inthe transverse direction so as to easily fit between the large andsecond toes of the wearer.

The sole II and strap sections 21 and 28 may iil) be made of anysuitable material such as rubber. plastic, fabric or the like. However,rubber is thought preferable in that it is easily washable, durable, andsoft and comfortable to the wearer. Furthermore, the resilient nature ofrubber tends to urge or bias the strap sections 21 and 28 toward theopen arcuate raised position shown in the drawing whereby the shoulderportions 34 and 4B are maintained in abutment against the sole I I andthe wearer may slip his foot quickly and easily beneath and between thestrap sections 21 and 28.

As a result of the resilient nature of the rubber material of the strapsections 21 and 28, the shoulder portions 34 and 4U are maintained inthe upper portions of the bosses 3| and 3E whereby the free air spaces35 and 4| in the lower portions of the bosses 3| and 36 allow the lat- Ater to act as suction cups which increase the gripping or tractioneffect of the sole I I with respect to the ground.

It is to be understood that the specific embodiment of the inventionshown in the drawing and described in the specification is merelyillustrative of one of the many forms which the invention may take inpractice; the scope of the invention being delineated in the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

l. A sandal comprising a sole having an upper surface upon which thefoot of the wearer may rest and a lower surface adapted to contact theground, a strap member extending above said sole and being adapted toextend over the foot of the wearer for holding the sandal in wearingposition on the foot, said strap member being of greater width thanthickness and comprising two sections each having a rear end locatedapproximately adjacent the rear or heel end of the sole and a forwardend approximately adjacent the front or toe end of the sole, and aprojection extending upwardly from the sole and secured at its upper endto one face of said strap section forward ends, said strap sectionslying substantially horizontal at their connection to said projectionand gradually twisting inwardly as they extend rearwardly so as to beSubstantially horizontal and inverted at their rear ends whereby theentire length of the strap sections will lie substantially flat` againstthe surface of the wearers foot, and connections between said sole andthe rear ends of said strap sections on the opposite face of said strapsections.

2. A sandal comprising a sole having an upper surface upon which thefoot of the wearer may rest and a lower surface adapted to contact theground, a strap member extending above said sole and being adapted toextend over the foot of the wearer for holding the sandal in wearingposition on the foot, said strap member being of greater width than thethickness and comprising two sections each having a rear end locatedapproximately adjacent the rear or heel end of the sole and a forwardend approximately adjacent the front or toe end of the sole, aprojection extending upwardly from the sole and secured at its upper endto one face of said strap section forward ends, said strap sectionslying substantially horizontal at their forward ends and graduallytwisting 180 inwardly as they extend rearwardly so as to besubstantially horizontal and inverted at their rear ends whereby theentire length of the strap sections will lie substantially flat againstthe surface of the wearers foot, said sole having three aperturestherethrough, said projection and said strap section rear ends eachhaving a portion extending downwardly through a respective one of saidapertures, the portions on said rear ends being on the opposite face ofsaid strap sections and an enlarged shoulder on each of the lowermostends of said portions and abutting against said sole lower surface so ast0 retain said strap sections in twisted relation and said strap sectionends against vupward movement with respect to the sole.

3. A sandal comprising a sole having an upper surface upon which thefoot of the wearer may rest and a lower surface adapted to contact theground, a strap member extending above said sole and being adapted toextend over the foot of the wearer for holding ythe sandal in wearingposition on the foot, said strap member being of greater width than thethickness and comprising two sections each having a rear end locatedapproximately adjacent the rear or heel end of the sole and a forwardend approximately adjacent the front or toe end of the sole, aprojection extending upwardly from the sole and secured at its upper endto one face of said strap section forward ends, said strap sectionslying substantially horizontal at their forward ends and graduallytwisting 180 inwardly as they eX- tend rearwardly so as to besubstantially horizontal and inverted at their rear ends whereby theentire length of the strap sections will lie substantially iiat againstthe surface of the wearers foot, said sole having three aperturestherethrough, said projection and said strap section rear ends eachhaving a portion extending downwardly through a respective one of saidapertures, the portions on said'rear ends being on the opposite face ofsaid strap sections, an enlarged shoulder on each of the lowermost endsof said portions and abutting against said sole lower surface so as toretain said strap sections in twisted relation and said strap sectionends against upward movement with respect to the sole,land three hollowrubber bosses secured to the lower surface of the sole, each bosssurrounding a respective one of said enlarged shoulders and extendingdownwardly thereabout and downwardly therebelow.

BURTON P. DAUGHERTY, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date- 1,875,162 Sayers Aug. 30, 1932v2,114,421 Guire Apr. 19, 1938 2,526,940 Fello Oct. 24, 1950 2,544,270LHollier Mar. 6, 1951 2,554,823 Goldman May 29, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 244: Great Britain Mar. 29, 1911

